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AmeriCorps Opportunities

AmeriCorps Opportunities

Gabby Ryan, our neighborhood staff liaison, wanted to share this opportunity for community members to serve in the Spokane County United Way’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program.

She stated in her email:

It’s often described as the domestic Peace Corps, and allows for folks to do intentional and impactful community-based work. Being an AmeriCorps VISTA was what allowed for me to begin my work in the Spokane community, as I served as the AmeriCorps VISTA in Eastern Washington University’s Office of Community Engagement for two years. This is an excellent opportunity to share with folks more interested in community-based work (whether it’s government or nonprofit focused).

If any community members have questions about AmeriCorps, there’s contact info at the bottom, but they’re also welcome to reach out to me if they’re interested in an AmeriCorps Alumna’s local experience. There is a robust and strong AmeriCorps Alumni network here in Spokane, that includes many folks y’all work with on a daily basis. Myself, Councilmember Burke and Gretchen Chomas are just a few AmeriCorps Alumni who served in Spokane and stayed in the public sector in Spokane following our service terms.

509.625.6858 | gryan@spokanecity.org

What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is an AmeriCorps program designed to fight poverty through indirect, capacity-building service.

Why serve?
Enrich your life by helping others. When you serve with Spokane County United Way’s VISTA Program, you join a network of people and organizations dedicated to strengthening Spokane.

Current opportunities:

  • Summer Associates: Help prevent summer learning loss in Spokane’s youth! Serve full-time for 9 weeks at Spokane County Library District, West Central Community Center, The ZoNE, or Spokane Parks & Recreation. Apply here!
  • Affordable Housing Specialist VISTA: Build neighborhood capacity for affordable housing as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member in West Central, Spokane! Note: This is a full-time, yearlong volunteer opportunity in partnership with Whitworth University’s Dornsife Center for Community Engagement. Apply here!
  • Community Outreach VISTA: Build the capacity of community engagement programs in NE Spokane through AmeriCorps VISTA service! Note: This is a full-time, yearlong volunteer opportunity in partnership with Gonzaga University’s Center for Community Engagement. Apply here!

See all opportunities through the VISTA Program. For questions about the VISTA Program, please contact Kaela Loriz at kaelal@unitedwayspokane.org.

Free Training Workshops – League of Women Voters’ Speak Up School – February 15 and 20, 2021

Free Training Workshops – League of Women Voters’ Speak Up School – February 15 and 20, 2021

The League of Women Voters of the Spokane Area (LWVSA) will be hosting a 2-afternoon free training workshop called Speak Up School to encourage a wide range of people to testify at open meetings held by the Washington State Commission on Redistricting later in 2021. Speak Up School will share tools to help participants find their own voice and build effective, personal testimony.

Register

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Redistricting – redrawing district lines for legislative and congressional districts – occurs every ten years following the Census. This critical process impacts all voters by determining who they can vote for to represent them in their state and national governments. The 2021 Washington State Redistricting Commission will be hosting public input meetings during the spring and fall of 2021 in every congressional district.

In the past, public testimony at these hearings has not been effective at compelling commissioners to take action. The League of Women Voters would like to change this in 2021 to ensure ALL voices are heard regarding this critical state action.

Importantly, LWVSA envisions another benefit of Speak-up School. As part of their mission to “Empower Voters. Defend Democracy,” they strongly support active civic engagement and believe the skills gained in this training will provide long-term benefit to the public when they testify to different municipal and state government committees and commissions.

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DivisionConnects Transportation Study Feedback Opportunities

DivisionConnects Transportation Study Feedback Opportunities

DivisionConnects, a collaborative two-year transportation and land use study, focuses on opportunities and challenges that come with the planned completion of the North Spokane Corridor (NSC).

They are seeking public feedback around how the highway can improve, what elements should remain the same and how Division can become more accessible for all modes of transportation in the long-term.

They have added a new mapping tool to their website to gather residents’ input on how they travel Division Street. They also added a questionnaire to let them know what your future vision is for Division Street, as well as your thoughts on the proposed selection criteria that will be used to analyze potential transit, walking, biking, and scooter alternatives.

Additionally, they are seeking participants for virtual focus groups. These focus groups would be conducted in late September/early October and again in late October/ early November, and are a completely voluntary commitment to participate in two facilitated hour-and-a-half discussions with less than 10 other participants. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Doodle Poll with your general availability. If you are selected to participate, they will follow up with additional details within the next two weeks.

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Volunteer Opportunity – SRTC Transportation Advisory Committee

Volunteer Opportunity – SRTC Transportation Advisory Committee

Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Spokane County, is seeking qualified applicants for its citizens advisory committee; the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC’s work will assist Transportation Planners and the SRTC Board of Directors to bring improvements to our area. We are encouraging individuals to provide their perspective on the transportation challenges facing our region and we will work together to create improvements that benefit our entire community.

For more information and details about the membership application, view this handout or call (509)343-6370 or email contact.srtc@srtc.org.

Short Land Use Study on North Monroe – Volunteers needed

Short Land Use Study on North Monroe – Volunteers needed

The City of Spokane is initiating a short land-use study process regarding the North Monroe Corridor and the residential uses around it which is being led by Kara Mowery and Kevin Freibott at the City Neighborhood and Planning Services Department.

At this point, the North Monroe Corridor has been designated and planned, and the City has updated its Comprehensive Plan and Municipal Code policies accordingly.  However, when the City considers the transition between the Corridor and the surrounding Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, as well as the current extreme need for housing in the City and the opportunities presented by unique centers like North Monroe, the City Council and the planning staff feel it might be worthwhile to explore changing some of the land uses and zoning around the corridor.  That might mean more medium-density residential zones in the immediate vicinity of the Corridor or it might mean another more specialized solution.

The City of Spokane looking to convene a stakeholder committee, a small group (~10) of dedicated individuals willing to meet three or four times to discuss the issues and develop possible solutions.  The City of Spokane is in a bit of a bind because the timeline for this study is rather short. The City would like to have a proposal identified by the end of the year, so the meetings will be taking place between October 28 and November 15. Dates and times TBD. Interested parties may also attend these initial stakeholder meetings to observe the process; the City of Spokane will have a window at the end of each meeting to hear comments from any members of the public who would like to speak.  

The stakeholder group will be focused on developing a proposed plan of action that would achieve the following:

  • Consider land use changes by engaging neighborhood stakeholders and exploring alternatives.
  • Focus on providing a transition between CC and residential zoning in appropriate locations to reduce land use conflicts between neighbors.
  • Consider allowing mixed-use and multifamily uses where not currently allowed (rezone?).
  • Support recent investments in transit and infrastructure on North Monroe with additional nearby housing opportunities.
  • Support walkable and cohesive public realm on cross and parallel streets to Monroe.

This is a map the City of Spokane has made showing the zoning around the corridor as well as the bus stops, one of the many factors the City is look at when considering these kinds of projects. The City of Spokane working on some background research and information and will shortly have a webpage and informational materials for everyone to read and engage with. 

In the meantime, all are welcome to provide input in a variety of ways during this process, including by calling (509.625.6146), emailing (kmowery@spokanecity.org), filling out the online survey (to be posted shortly), or by attending a City of Spokane public workshop at the end of the year.

The City of Spokane will be posting all of this information to the webpage:  https://my.spokanecity.org/projects/transitional-residential-uses-on-north-monroe-corridor-project/. 

Interested parties may also attend these initial stakeholder meetings to observe the process; the City of Spokane will have a window at the end of each meeting to hear comments from any members of the public who would like to speak.